Council members reject proposed medical marijuana ban for San Luis Obispo

Standing-room-only crowd at Tuesday evening's city council meeting in San Luis Obispo.

Credit Hank Hadley, KCBX

A standing-room-only crowd at Tuesday evening's San Luis Obispo City Council meeting was successful in persuading council members against supporting an ordinance to ban the growing, processing and distribution of medical marijuana within city limits.

The special session to consider the ban started around 4:00 p.m., and ended with a 4-1 vote against it.

Councilman Dan Carpenter was the sole vote in support, saying he's uncomfortable with permitting local marijuana operations when its federal status remains illegal, according to the San Luis Obispo Tribune.

The council majority instead chose to handle the marijuana issue by directing city staff to find other methods for handling growing operations that do not meet community standards.

The issue found its way to the council through complaints filed last fall involving a medical marijuana operation near the corner of Leff and Nipomo Streets. Neighbors said the "grow house" was a major nuisance and a safety threat for their neighborhood.